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Education

Martin Kay’s team at Blake Lapthorn advises a number of key universities, including Reading, Sussex, Winchester and Southampton. In 2010 the team advised on student disciplinary matters and procedures, Charity Commission registrations and property issues. Alison Talbot is ‘quick and effective’, and John Deech is ‘hardworking and committed’.

In 2010 DMH Stallard LLP advised clients such as the London Borough of Croydon, the University of Sussex and Lancing College on special educational needs matters, pupil and parental rights, and general governance issues. New clients for Martin Allen’s team include Brighton University.

asb law LLP’s ‘excellent’ team advises clients such as Central Sussex College on competition, employment and development matters, and in 2010 advised on the proposed merger of two independent schools and the establishment of a National Challenge Trust school. Practice head Andrew Knorpel is recommended.

In 2010 Bettina Rigg’s cross-office group at Bond Pearce LLP advises on property and employment law issues among others. It assisted the University of Portsmouth in the creation of a new dental academy with King’s College London Dental Institute. Other clients include the University of Plymouth.

Manches LLP’s ‘excellent’ multi-disciplinary team provides property, commercial litigation and employment advice to clients including The Queen’s College, Oxford Brookes University and the Royal Agricultural College. Practice head Daff Richardson is ‘outstanding’.

Associate Clara Snow’s team at Morgan Cole recently advised Cherwell Valley College on a student’s rights to attend the college without parental consent. William Downing recently joined the team from Manches LLP.

The ‘excellent’ team at Thomas Eggar LLP has been bolstered by the arrival of the ‘extremely knowledgeable’ Matthew Kelly and Catherine Wilson from Eversheds LLP. Wilson now heads the team, and in 2010 advised a number of colleges on issues arising from mergers.

Philip George’s ‘effective and efficient’ team at Birkett Long LLP advises clients such as the University of Essex on issues including construction and finance.

Clarkslegal LLP advises the University of Reading on various matters including procurement and sales of parts of the estate. Practice head Kirstin Parker is recommended.

Health

Beachcroft’s three-partner team, led by Matthew McGrath, offers clients a wide range of support on development, health and social care issues. Recent work highlights include advising an NHS trust on the care of overseas visitors and failed asylum seekers. Clients include NHSLA, NHS Hampshire and Royal Bournemouth Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.

Morgan Cole’s ‘pre-eminent’ and ‘extremely responsive and knowledgeable’ team is jointly led by Gayle Curry and Bruce Potter. Work highlights included advising the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority on fertility services legislation. Potter has ‘unique and valuable sector knowledge’.

Tracey Dickens heads the team at Birkett Long LLP, which in 2010 acted for Care UK on the sale of a redundant care home and associated lease transactions. Clients include Healthcare Homes Group and Alliance Medical.

Brachers’ team acts for clients such as East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust on corporate manslaughter, employment and commercial matters, as well as inquests. Practice head John Sheath is ‘direct and honest’, and has ‘invaluable expertise’.

In 2010 DMH Stallard LLP advised the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman on a number of judicial reviews, and clients such as Hillcrest Care on acquisitions and joint ventures.

Giles Clifford heads the cross-disciplinary team at Manches LLP, which deals with PFI, property and regulatory work for numerous pharmaceutical clients, including The Institute for Animal Health.

Local government

The team at Cripps Harries Hall LLP is now headed by Miles Paffard following Andrew Fermor’s retirement. It advises government authorities and public bodies, including Crawley Borough Council, the Crown Prosecution Service and the Home Office, on issues ranging from outstanding rent claims to property acquisitions and s106 agreements.

Jenny Thorp’s team at DMH Stallard LLP continues to advise a number of London Boroughs, including Croydon, Tower Hamlets and Enfield, on employment, litigation and property issues. The team also advises The Local Government Ombudsman on employment matters.

SNR Denton’s team is ‘excellent across the board’. In 2010 it advised Cheshire West and Chester Council on a planning permission judicial review, and the London Borough of Southwark on the Abbeyfields estate development. Practice head Nick Mott is ‘first class’.

Jeremy Ferris’ ‘excellent’ team at asb law LLP advises clients on a range of matters, including procurement, IT/IP and refuse/recycling services. In 2010 the team was appointed to the Sussex Consortium, and gained new clients Eastbourne Borough Council and Dover District Council. Francis Lacy Scott has a ‘wealth of experience and knowledge’.

Clarkslegal LLP’s team is advising a number of collaborating councils on a significant and large-scale procurement, and Blaenau-Gwent County Borough Council on an ethical standards inquiry. Other clients include The South West Wales Consortium and Oxfordshire Primary Care Trust. Kirstin Parker leads the team.

Planning partner Deborah Ceadel leads the team at Darbys Solicitors LLP, which advises local authority and developer clients on city centre redevelopments and other property-related matters.

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Legal Developments in the UK

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  • COUNCIL TAX

    In Harrow LBC v Ayiku [2012] EWHC 1200 (Admin) Sales J held that the word “or” in the Council Tax (Exempt Dwellings) Order 1992, art 3 Class N, had a disjunctive meaning, therefore it was sufficient for the non-British spouse of a foreign student to satisfy one or other of the two conditions, namely being prevented from taking paid employment or being prevented from claiming benefits, in order to qualify as a “relevant person” who was exempted from liability to pay council tax.
    - 11KBW

  • QUEEN’S SPEECH

    Bills already introduced pursuant to the Queen’s Speech on 9 May 2012 include Local Government Finance Bill and Electoral Registration and Administration Bill, both accompanied by Explanatory Notes, which in each case address ECHR compatibility.
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  • Standards

    In R (Calver) v Adjudication Panel for Wales [2012] EWHC 1172 (Admin) Mr Calver was a member of Manorbier Community Council who successfully challenged the decision of the Panel to dismiss his appeal against a decision by Prembrokeshire County Council Standards Committee censuring him for a number of comments or blogs posted by him on a website he owned and controlled.
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  • A justified retrospective

    Clive Sheldon - QC debates the pros & cons of retrospective tax legislation
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  • Public Sector Equality Duty (“PSED”)

    In R (Greenwich Community Law Centre) v Greenwich LBC [2012] EWCA Civ 496 the Court of Appeal held that the Council had had “due regard to the PSED when making changes to its funding of community legal advice services”. At para 30 Elias LJ said:
    - 11KBW

  • Public Sector Equality Duty

    Surrey County Council conducted a review of its Library Service. This culminated in a Report to the Council’s Cabinet. The Recommendations in the Report included that there should be consultation about a community-partnership approach at selected Libraries.
    - 11KBW

  • Judicial Review

    The Judgment of Lindblom J in The Manydown Co Ltd v Basingstoke and Deane BC [2012] EWHC 977 (Admin) repays attention. The Claimant sought to challenge by judicial review 2 decisions of the Council: (1) the Council’s refusal to reconsider its position on the development of a site that it owns (and is the subject matter of a Joint Development Partnership Agreement with the Claimant); and (2) a decision of the Council’s Cabinet approving a selection of sites for development which did not include this site.
    - 11KBW

  • The Health and Social Care Act 2012: impact on adult social services

    After its torrid passage through Parliament, the Health and Social Care Bill received Royal Assent on 27 March 2012. The Act deals principally with healthcare reform, but it also contains some amendments to the legislative framework for social care. It will come into force on a day yet to be appointed by the Secretary of State.
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  • Immigration update May 2012

    In this issue:
    - Penningtons Solicitors LLP

  • Premium service for tier 2 and 5 sponsors to be launched

    A premium service for sponsors will be launched by the UKBA on 6 April 2012. The service is designed specifically for companies that sponsor international employees under tier 2 and 5 of the points based system and aims to provide them with enhanced support.
    - Penningtons Solicitors LLP

Press Releases in the UK

The latest news direct from law firms. If you would like to submit press releases for your firm, send an email request to
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